Jewry's Role in
Human Advancement

Not until the 19th Century did secular literature earnestly
enter the Jewish mainstream within Europe and America.
A chorus of voices was heard, those of Jewish writers and
poets within whose ranks were nine winners of Nobel
Prizes for Literature: German author Paul Heyse (1910);
poet Nelly Sachs and novelist Shmuel Agnon (jointly in
1966); Isaac Bashevis Singer (1978); playwright/novelist
Elias Canetti (1981); and Joseph Brodsky (1987), also
America's fifth Poet Laureate in 1991. And others:

HENRI BERGSON
(1859-1941) b. Paris, France
Philosopher
The "mystical"
attributes he assigned to mind and
matter has pervaded much of modern
philosophy and has influenced
literature. His writings stressed the
importance of the élan vital (vital impulse), opposed to a
static, purely scientific view of nature and evolutionary
change. He reasoned that individuals may know matter
through intellect but detect the life force and reality of
time through intuition. One of the most original thinkers
of the 20th Century, the College de France Professor was
elected to the French Academy in 1914 and received the
Nobel Prize for Literature three years after.

BORIS PASTERNAK
(1890-1960) b. Moscow, Russia
Poet/Novelist After studying the
law, music and philosophy he turned
to literature and published several
outstanding volumes of imaginative,
lyrical poetry (1917, 1922) that est-
ablished his literary reputation. Although he earlier
supported the Soviet revolution, his disenchantment with
Stalinism was mirrored in his political poetry and short
stories. Censured and barred from publication, he shifted
to translation and criticism--until his masterpiece, Dr.
Zhivago, an epic novel of the tragic upheavals of 20th
Century Russia. Acclaimed worldwide, it inspired his
selection as winner of the 1958 Nobel Prize for Literature
which his government forced him to decline.

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SAUL BELLOW
(1915-) b. Lachine, Canada
Novelist The dean of contemporary
U.S. novelists established his rep-
utation in 1953 with The Adventures
of Augie March—followed by dis-
tinguished works often concerning
the moral dilemmas of people adrift in an indifferent
society. He was credited with inventing "the first major
new style of American prose fiction since Hemingway
and Faulkner." A short story writer and playwright as
well, he received three National Book Awards and a
Pulitzer Prize for Humbolt's Gift (1975), followed by a
Nobel Prize for Literature one year later. He also
authored Seize the Day (1956), Herzog (1964), Mr.
Sammler's Planet (1970) and his latest, The Actual, in
1997.
-- Saul Stadtmauer

Marvin Novick

Marvin Novick
Receives Award

At a recent brotherhood instal-
lation at Temple Beth El, Marvin
Novick, a past congregational
president, was named this year's
recipient of the Robert L. Rosen-
bush Award, which is given an-
nually to a temple member who
is committed to scholarship, wor-
ship and deeds of loving kindness.
Mr. Novick's temple accom-
plishments have included the
presidency of Married Group, and
chair of numerous committees, in-
cluding religious school and per-
sonnel. He is treasurer of the
Endowment Board.
Among his other affiliations are
the Oak Park Board of Education,
of which he is a past president; the
Democratic Party, where he
served as 18th Congressional Dis-
trict chair; and Providence and
Sinai hospitals where he was a
chairman and trustee of the for-
mer and vice chairman and
trustee of the latter. Mr. Novick
also is a past board member of the
Jewish Federation of Metropoli-
tan Detroit. Nationally and in-
ternationally, he serves as vice
chairman ofthe Board of Trustees
of the Union ofAmerican Hebrew
Congregations, treasurer of the
World Union for Progressive Ju.-
rlaism and sub-committee mem-
ber and adviser of the
International Committee of the
Jewish Agency.

SAE

Calendar

COMMUNITY

The Jewish Genealogical So-
ciety of Michigan will meet 11
a.m. Sunday, June 29, at
Temple Beth EL The program
will feature artist, speaker
Rafael Gruber. There is a
charge. Call (248) 373-1942.

Fresh Air Society's annual
meeting and election of offi-
cers will be 11 a.m. Sunday,
Aug. 10, at Camp Maas.

COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF
JEWISH HISTORY

SENIORS

The Detroit Friends of ALYN Hospital
recently honored Dr. Mark Diem.
Shown with Dr. Diem is organization
president Miriam Goldberg.

Shown at the Young
Israel of Metropolitan
Detroit dinner are the
honorees of the Young
Israel branches.
Standing: Dr. Eric
Peterson, Young Israel
of Southfield; Dr.
David Berris, Young
Israel of West
Bloomfield; Anne
Berris, Young Israel of
West Bloomfield;
Manny Mittelman,
Young Israel of Oak
Park. Seated:
Rochelle Peterson,
Young Israel of
Southfield, and Bessie
Mittelman, Young
Israel of Oak Park.

• • •

The AJE Midrasha Center
will host a lecture by Rabbi
Kolton from the Birmingham
Temple 7-8:30 p.m. Monday,
June 30, at Barnes and No-
ble in West Bloomfield.

The collected works of Maxim Gorky published in the
Soviet Union in 1956 deleted all his complimentary
references to Jews. Among them was the writer's report
of a remark by V.I. Lenin: "There are few intelligent
people among us. We are, generally speaking, a gifted
people, but intellectually lazy. An intelligent Russian is
almost always a Jew or a man with Jewish blood."

Harold Berry & Irwin S. Field, Co-chairmen
Harriet F. Siden, Secretary
Founders/Sponsors: Walter & Lea Field

The Metro Detroit Attorney Division of State of Israel Bonds recently honored Judge
Paul D. Borman and Judge Gus Cifelli at its annual Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities
Award Dinner. Over $960,000 in State of Israel Bond investments were raised.
Shown seated are: Rabbi Irwin Groner, Judge Paul D. Borman, guest speaker
Richard M. Joel, Judge Gus Cifelli and Leon Hart. Standing are: Sheldon L. Miller,
dinner co-chairmen Ira J. Jaffe and Albert L. Holtz and Leonard B. Schwartz.

Young At Heart, Congrega-
tion Beth Achim's senior
group, will hold its annual

picnic noon Thursday, July 3,
at the synagogue. For reser-
vations, call (248) 352-8670.

Week-long Elderhostel pro
grams will be held starting
Sunday, July 20, at Butzel
Conference Center. For in-
formation, call (248) 661-
0600

SYNAGOGUES

N'Shei Rosh Chodesh of West
Bloomfield will host a gath-
ering to celebrate the new
month 8 p.m. Tuesday, July
1, at the home of Mrs. Levine.
For information, call (248)
619-2599.

WOMEN

Hanitillsrael Chapter of
Na'amat USA will mw,, *2:30
p.m. Tuesday, July 1, ai, th
Crown Pointe building.